LEARN NEW TECH SKILLS AND ADVANCE YOUR CAREER!

OVERVIEW:

Do you want a better career, but worry you're not qualified? Do you think about going back to school, but worry about the cost, or whether you'll learn anything that actually helps your career? Do you have trouble getting employers to take you seriously because you don't have a college degree?

Merit America is a new program that wants to help you learn in-demand tech skills and connect you with employers with great jobs, while providing compensation throughout the program. We are currently looking for people without Bachelor’s degrees to participate in and help build this new program.

As a LEARNING ASSOCIATE you will 1) learn new skills for good careers, 2) get help finding new jobs, and 3) shape our digital learning program. You will receive a stipend for this position and are expected to commit to learning 20-25 hours a week for 10-20 weeks. This is a unique opportunity to advance your career while helping your community and getting compensated for your time. COMMIT TO LEARNING, AND MERIT AMERICA WILL HELP YOU GET AHEAD.

WHO WE ARE:

Merit America is a nonprofit focused on preparing and placing people who do not have 4-year college degrees in good careers, with a program that is attractive and accessible to working adults. We are looking for exceptional learners to participate in, complete, and give feedback on our “blended” learning program, which combines online learning with in-person support. 86% of our first cohort of learners are on-track to complete our program and earn credentials for high-demand careers in 10 weeks, and 100% would recommend the program to others.   

WHO YOU ARE:

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Exceptional workplace skills: You easily work with all types of people and you're the person teammates call on to help fix problems; you love a good challenge and communicate clearly.
• Excellent time management skills: You are great at balancing and meeting your personal and professional commitments, even when it seems like there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done.
• Passion for learning: You are excited about the opportunity to learn new things and often find yourself learning in new ways, whether by staying up late watching videos online or getting help from friends who know things you don’t.
• Interest in technology careers: You have an interest in technology and/or technology-related skills, and are excited about preparing for a technology-related career.
• Strong self-motivation and “grit”: You are ready to commit to building a better future for yourself and your loved ones and you rarely give up when faced with challenges.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• You have at least 1 year of professional work experience, with colleagues and/or managers who would strongly recommend working with you.
• High school diploma or GED, but no Bachelor’s degree. While those with Associate’s degrees are welcome to apply, those with Bachelor’s degree or who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program are not eligible.
• Able to pass a basic academic assessment test.
• Fluent English speaker and writer.
• Earn <$45,000 per year.
• Authorized to work in the U.S.

OTHER:

• Currently live within 50 miles of D.C., with access to public transportation and/or a car.
• Able to pass a background and reference check.
• Comfortable using the internet through a smartphone or a computer, with consistent internet access.

WHAT YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME DOING:

LEARNING. Once you are hired, you will spend your time in a learning program that combines online learning with in-person meet-ups for 10 - 20 weeks for approximately 20-25 hours / week.

Online learning: The online program is designed to get you ready for an entry or mid-level technical role with the opportunity for promotion and a great career path, and will focus on roles in a technology-related field. You will be able to select which specific learning program(s) you would like to be considered for, which will prepare you for roles in: Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Software Development, or Financial Management.

In-person meet-ups: Aside from the online courses, you will also participate in the following:

• In-person 1:1 coaching (~1 hour/week)

• Small peer group meet-up with coach (~6 people, ~2 hours/week)

• Optional meet-ups with the larger cohort and professional mentors (bi-monthly)

• Optional career services events such as career fairs and office visits (monthly)

• Ongoing wraparound services, as well as 24/7 technical support

PROVIDING THE MERIT AMERICA TEAM WITH HONEST AND THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK. We want to build the best education-to-employment program in the country and we have ambitious near-term goals. By the end of his year, we will have launched two sites reaching 500+ people annually, and in four years, we will reach 100,000+ learners annually. To do this effectively, we need you to help us learn more about how we can best prepare and place people with diverse backgrounds in digital careers at an unprecedented scale. As such, we will ask you to participate in the following:

• Surveys

• Focus Groups

• Journaling

• One-on-one interviews

WHAT WE’LL DO FOR YOU:

Stipend and Benefits

We will:

• Compensate you for your participation in the full learning program, which we expect will be  learning part-time (20 -25 hours a week) for 10-20 weeks. Those who “graduate” from our program will receive a $500 bonus.
• Provide personalized one-on-one coaching and support throughout the learning program.
• Help you write a professional resume and practice your interview skills.
• Offer job placement assistance, with access to our network of employer partners.
• Help you develop critical soft-skills necessary to succeed in your new job such as communicating professionally, receiving feedback effectively, and more.

WHAT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE:

• You’ll be asked to complete a series of assessments including an basic adult test and a questionnaire to help the Merit America team fine-tune our program to best suit you and future learners.
• You’ll be asked to participate in a video interview and a group interview to test for key professional & motivational skills.
• You’ll be asked to complete a brief scheduling & planning exercise to ensure that those accepted into our program have the capacity to complete the program.

ONE MORE THING:

Diversity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that tech should be truly inclusive and include underrepresented people in terms of race, gender and/or socio-economic status and any other characteristics protected by applicable law. We strongly encourage underrepresented people to apply.